For those of us who lean toward introversion (*raises hand*), meeting new people can be a tough experience. But even if you’re the most extroverted extrovert, making a good first impression can be tough.

And according to research, what you do on your end is only half the battle…

So you decided to invite a business contact or mentor to a business lunch. When it comes to dining professionally, preparation trumps spontaneity every time. Here are seven magic tips to impress your guest at that meal.

It’s tough to grow a business in a silo. By that I mean operating without dialogue, networking and information exchange with other people in your industry. I believe 100% in joining industry associations relevant to your business. They can open doors, lead to new relationships and give you access unavailable to non-members.

When you are in a job search, your emails usually ask the recipient to take some sort of action: look at your qualifications for a job, request an informational meeting, follow-up on an interview or application. In all these instances, you are “selling” your email recipient on the benefits of taking the action. Here are seven best practices gleaned from sales and marketing professionals that will increase the likelihood that your emails are attention getting emails that demand a response.